Ok, here's my two cents.....

I recently bought the windshield washer lights, just to see how they would look on my Tib, and I was reading messages on this forum regarding the wiring, etc. The conclusion that I came to is that I have a few options on how to turn them on; none of which I particularly like. So, I decided my best option would be to put in aftermarket switches in the car. Also, assuming I continue with a few other exterior electronic mods, I will need more switches in the future. Taking this into consideration, my only feasible option would be to have an airplane-like panel of switches in there somewhere. What do y'all think about a small, three or four switch panel inside the ashtray? I think it would provide one hell of an effect, with the automatic opening switch panel...
PLEASE, good or bad, respond with all of your thoughts on this.
Thanks again!!

 

Sounds like a good idea...BUT..think about this. You will have to gut the inside of the ashtray, in order to have enough room to install the switches, and have the cover fold down and back up. If this isn't a problem, then I say go for it! Then on the cover of the ashtray, you could put some Top Secret 007 type of sticker. *ha ha* Just kidding. If it doesn't work out, then you could always install a switch panel under your radio...if you have a single din head unit. Good luck. wink.gif

[ August 07, 2001: Message edited by: 2000Lo&ShowTibby ]

 

Thanks for the support, Lo&Show....

Just a quick question, though. (Here is where you see how uneducated I am in the ways of the car...) What is 'din'?

 

TibbyBob,

I thinks that's an awesome idea!

In fact, pickup a second ashtray assembly from a junkyard or try Parts.com that way if you like trash it and it doesn't work out, just put your original back in.

 

"Din" has to do with the size opening your head unit stereo takes up. If you have the large factory cd player, that's considered a double din (or 2 size) din opening. But if you have just the normal type cd player, like what alot of people have, then you have the single din (single opening). If you're still a little confused on which one you have, look right underneath your cd player. If you have a little opening between your stereo, and ashtray, then you have the single. Otherwise if you stereo takes up the entire location of the dash right above your ashtray, then you have the double.

 

Thanks for the course on Single and Double Din. smile.gif Turns out I have the double.

 

Ok, second idea....
Instead of the ashtray, I was thinking the overhead sunglasses holder. It's wider, and it opens quicker. Does anyone know where the wires go from the overhead dome-ish lights? I'm assuming I'm going to need to run quite a bit of wire from the inside of that sunglasses holder out to wherever the wires go. Also, would anyone happen to know where I could find another sunglasses holder? I looked at Parts.com, and didn't find it. Think my Hyundai dealer would have one that I could buy? As always, any suggestions are appreciated. smile.gif

 

Well the sunglass holder and ash tray are both cool ideas. With the sunglass holder you would need a huge amount of wire and I would inspect the space above it first to see if a switch would even fit in there because of it being so close to the roof but there are wires up ther to tap into but the power is not constant it's switched but if there is space and you want to run the wire I think it would look cool and I wouldn't worry about replacing the peice just keep it closed when you go to trade it in and if you take the switches out noone will ever see the holes anyway. As far as the ashtray another cool idea and again I wouldn't be to worried about replaing it the same ru;e applies as the sunglass holder. Just when you run the wire make sure to electrical tape the wires together until their clear (about 3 feet) so the don't get caught on any moving peices or get caught in anythingand catch it on fire and leave enough slack because everytime you open and close it the wires will pull another good reason to tape the a&* out of the wires just incase one comes off. But both are hot ideas. Another idea is the glove compartment or middle consol. Or if you really want to be slick and hide the switches and drill no holes or cut anything they sell interconecting toggle board switches (they look like the flat light switches for the house) that you can put under the steering wheel column the only down fall is you won't be fully able to tilt your wheel but it eliminates cutting and drilling and you still won't be able to see the switches and it is probably the easiest access to the switches then the others.

 

Jaws (and others...),

Thanks for the feedback. I totally dig your idea about the switchboard that comes pre-packaged for me. wink.gif That could save a load of time and effort from the tedious part of the project.
Instead of taping the wires together to avoid any catastrophic disaster under the hood, I'm probably going to go with some sort of a cheesy blue tube that will run the length of the wires. For some reason, I'm drawing a blank, and I can't remember what the heck those are called. It's some sort of hose...dammit, I can't remember. Anyways...
The reason I like the sunglass holder idea so much is because of the size as well. As it turns out, my small TSR sticker fits just right on that cover. smile.gif
Again, anyone know which way the wires run from the overhead lights? Is it down the driver's side or down the passenger's side of the windshield? Thanks again.

 

The blue stuff your thinking of is wire loom. Not bad stuff to make the wire look like it blends in but it won't prevent fire or wire chafing for that matter. If you want to run loom around the wire but trust me make sure you tape the shi$ out of the wire it could save you more than you can imagine. The wires run down the driver side a pillar and if you notice the wires are all completly taped together with electrical tape (HINT HINT rolleyes.gif ) just make sure to use a volt meter to find out what is positive and negative. Have fun